Seroprevalance of Rubella antibodies among women of reproductive age: a study at Nishtar Hospital Multan

This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalance of rubella antibodies among women of reproductive age and to emphasize the importance of vaccinating this population. Serum specimen of 180 students of College of Nursing Nishtar Hospital Multan was screened with IMMULITE/IMMULITE 1000 Rubella Quantitative IgG assay at MINAR [Multan Institute of Nuclear medicine and Radiotherapy]. Out of 180 serum specimens screened 168 [93.33%] were seropositive. 9 [5%] were seronegative and 3 [1.6%] fell in the intermediate range. All subjects were unmarried, between 16 and 24 years of age and none had a previous history of rubella vaccination. However there was non specific history of fever and rash in 11 [6.1%] students. It is evident from this small age without acquiring natural immunity need to be immunized to prevent repeated pregnancy loss and birth of infants with congenital rubella syndrome [CRS]

Evaluation and comparison of coronary heart disease risk factor profiles of children in a country with developing economy

To define the risk factors [RF] profile and prevalence rates of high risk factors in an urban Pakistani community and compare it to the RF profile and prevalence rates of Pakistan National Health Survey. The present study included RF relevant data of 400 house hold children selected by open invitation as a part of Metroville Health Study [MHS], a risk factor modification study which was a cooperation between National Heart Lung Blood institute [NHLBI] USA and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Pakistan. The base line data of 389 girls and 417 boys age 5-17 was included. PMRC data of 5067 and NHANES III survey data of 10,252 US children was used for comparison with MHS. RF analyzed were height weight, SBP, DBP, BMI and serum cholesterol. Comparisons between MHS and PMRC and US were made by using two tailed student t test and of high RF were defined as those exceeding US standards and expressed as percentages. The RF factor profile of urban Metroville children was worse than the national average of PMRC children. Except for diastolic blood pressure in both boys and girls and SBP in PMRC boys, all other RF were less than US children. Prevalence rates were higher in urban Metroville community, i.e., MHS compared to the PMRC which represents national average data. RF profile of Pakistani children has been presented and effect of urbanization demonstrated by comparing the PMRC and MHS RF profile. Hypertension in Pakistani children has emerged as a single most important RF requiring urgent prevention